System for Packaging, Processing, Activating, and Deactivating Multiple Individual Transaction Cards as a Singular Unit

ABSTRACT

A transaction card processing and activation system comprising the identification of a unique identifier corresponding to an aggregate of transaction cards of affiliated or non-affiliated card issuers and the activation of each transaction card corresponding to the unique identifier of the aggregate irrespective of the number, types, or card issuers of the transaction cards. Additionally, the present invention allows a point of sale entity to initiate the activation of each of the multiple, disparate transaction cards in the aggregate by merely processing the unique identifier associated with the aggregate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/778,645 filed May 12, 2010, which is divisionalof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/560,380 filed Nov. 16, 2006, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,740,170, which claimed priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/865,571, filed on Nov. 13, 2006 and entitled“A System for Packaging, Processing, Activating, and DeactivatingMultiple Individual Transaction Cards as a Singular Unit,” both of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a processing and activationsystem providing consumers with the ability to purchase transactioncards, i.e., gift cards, debit cards, and credit cards, of variousaffiliated or non-affiliated service providers in a singular prepackagedassembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The market for transaction cards such as merchant gift cards continuesto grow. Until now, consumers have had to separately purchase the cardsof differing card issuers or purchase packages containing multiple cardsfrom the same card issuer. The present disclosure addresses theshort-comings of present systems by providing consumers with the abilityto purchase multiple cards from differing card issuers in a singularpackage assembly and providing point of sale entities with the abilityto initiate the activation of each card in the package by merelyprocessing the package assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a package assembly and method for permitting theactivation and deactivation of a plurality of individual transactioncards, such as merchandise cards or service cards of affiliated ornon-affiliated card issuers, at a point of sale whereby the latency,e.g., the amount of time between interpretation of the packageidentifier 250 at the point of sale and activation or deactivation ofthe individual transaction cards secured by the package, of thetransaction is independent of the number of individual transaction cardssecured by the package. Further disclosed is a package assemblycontaining a plurality of transaction cards with each transaction cardcomprising a unique identification number. Further disclosed is anidentifier on the package assembly encoded with information identifyingthe package assembly.

When the package identifier is interpreted at the point of sale, thedata associated with the package assembly identifier, along with anactivation or deactivation request, is communicated to a multicardtransaction computer. Upon receipt of the package assembly activation ordeactivation request, the multicard transaction computer retrievesprestored information from a database containing transaction cardidentifiers associated with specific package identifiers. Uponprocessing the request and information from the database, the multicardtransaction computer initiates an activation or deactivation protocol.As part of the activation/deactivation protocol, the multicardtransaction computer communicates with the individual card issuers'authorization systems to effectuate activation or deactivation ofindividual transaction cards. Subsequently, the multicard transactioncomputer communicates the activation or deactivation of the individualtransaction cards to the point of sale. If the transaction cards areactivated, the transaction cards may immediately be used to conducttransactions. If the transaction cards are deactivated, the packagedassembly can be restocked for later purchase and activation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front perspective views of representative individualtransaction cards.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are front perspective views of package assemblies forsecuring multiple individual transaction cards.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the multicard transactionsystem.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary general purpose computer system suitablefor implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, transaction card refers to a card that may be used totransact business with a party willing to accept the card, for exampleas tender for a purchase. Examples of such cards include credit cards,debit cards, gift cards, telephone cards, loyalty cards, membershipcards, ticket cards, entertainment cards, sports cards, prepaid cards,and the like. Typically, such cards are wallet-sized and made ofplastic. In various embodiments, the transaction card may be a type ofcard such as a gift or prepaid card that requires activation at a pointof sale. For example, a transaction card may be purchased and activatedat a point of sale by a consumer and subsequently used by the consumeror another (e.g., the recipient of the card as a gift) to transactbusiness.

Consumer use of transaction cards typically involves a card vendor, aredeeming merchant, and a card issuer. In various embodiments, the cardvendor, redeeming merchant and card issuer may be the same, different,or related entities. The point of sale where transaction cards arepurchased and activated may be referred to as the card vendor or simplyvendor. An entity that will accept a transaction card for businesstransactions, for example as tender for a purchase, may be referred toas a redeeming merchant. An entity that provides the financial backingand/or payment processing accessed via the transaction card may bereferred to as the card issuer or simply issuer.

Typically, the issuer is identified on the transaction card andassociates a unique issuer account code with each transaction card. Cardissuers include direct issuers of cards such as store-branded cards, andin some embodiments the card vendor may also be the card issuer and/orthe redeeming merchant. Card issuers also include banks, financialinstitutions, and transaction processors such as VISA, Mastercard,American Express, etc., and cards issued by such institutions may bereadily accepted by a number of redeeming merchants to conducttransactions such as purchases. In some instances, the redeemingmerchant may be identified on the transaction card (for example, aretailer branded card such as Store X), and such cards may be sold atthe same or different card vendor (e.g., card vendor is Store X or adifferent or unrelated Store Z). In such instances, the Store X brandedtransaction card may be issued by Store X, by Store Z, or by a thirdparty such as bank or financial institution.

In an embodiment, a card vendor is able to offer customers the abilityto purchase multiple transaction cards secured in a single packageassembly, whereby the latency of the activation transaction isindependent of the number of individual transaction cards secured by thepackage. FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B depict transaction cards 100 and 101and associated packages 200 and 210 in accordance with the presentinvention. For purposes of discussion, transaction cards 100 and 101 areto be considered issued from independent, non-affiliated card issuers.It is understood, however, that multiple cards from the same and/oraffiliated card issuers could be packaged and activated in the samemanner as the following description for transaction cards 100 and 101.

The transaction card 100 is fabricated from a suitable first material,such as plastic, paper, a plastic-coated paper, laminates, orcombinations thereof. The transaction card 100 is typically made in athickness range of from about 0.005 to about 0.040 inch. The transactioncard 100 bears an identifier 111. The transaction card identifier 111 isunique to the transaction card and associates the transaction card to aunique account maintained by the card issuer. The transaction cardidentifier may be encoded in a bar code, a magnetic strip, a series ofnumerals, a series of letters, or a combination thereof. The transactioncard 100 may also be fashioned with a personal identification number, orPIN, to be entered during the course of the transaction, thatcorresponds to the transaction card identifier 111 and allows accessand/or use of the transaction card account. The PIN may be encoded in abar code, a magnetic strip, a series of numeral, a series of letters, ora combination thereof. The PIN may be obscured from view by the packages200 and 210, by an obscuring material such as a scratch-off strip orpeel-off label, or combinations thereof. The transaction card 100 ismade separate and apart from the packages 200 and 210.

Packages 200 and 210 are distinct and separate from the individualtransaction cards. Packages 200 and 210 may be formed from paper,plastic, plastic-coated paper, laminate, or combinations thereof. Forexample, the package may be made of a 15 point coated one-side boardstock, although it may be a laminated board or other laminate.Preferably, if the package secures transaction cards comprising PINs,the package backing material is opaque, to obscure the PINs on thetransaction card 100, as described above. A transparent shrink wrapplastic film 203, applied using well-known methods, may be used to coverthe transaction cards 100, 101 and to secure the transaction cards 100,101 to package 200. In the alternative, a transparent plastic cover 205with an appropriately sized, generally rigid, embossed areaaccommodating the transaction cards 100 and 101 may be incorporated,forming a structure commonly known as a “blister pack” 210. The packages200 and 210 may be imprinted with decorations, advertising, coupons,instructions, or other information as will now be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Packages 200 and 210 are presented for illustrativepurposes only and are not intended to represent the every embodiment ofpackages capable of being formed to secure multiple individualtransaction cards. For example, package assemblies could be constructedto secure 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or any plurality of cards, from anynumber of affiliated or non-affiliated card issuers. Additionally,package assemblies could be fashioned from any industry-acceptedmaterial with individual transaction cards secured in anyindustry-accepted manner. Furthermore, these packages could be formed orconstructed in a plurality of shapes or presentations comprising aplurality of decorative, informational, promotional, or otherinformation as would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The package 200 and 210 bears an identifier 250. The package identifier250 is unique to the package and is linked to the transaction cards, andmore specifically, to the transaction card identifiers secured by thepackage. The package identifier may be encoded in a bar code, a magneticstrip, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, microprocessors,microchips, a series of numerals, a series of letters, or a combinationthereof. The package identifier 250 may be positioned anywhere on thepackage whereby it is capable of being interpreted by a point of saleinterpretation component 301.

In an embodiment of the package identifier 250, the package 200comprises a bar code 255 of conventional construction, such as a UPCcode, positioned on the package 200 so that it can be scanned bywell-known bar code reading equipment. Encoded in the bar code 255 onthe package is a representation of the package identifier.

In another embodiment of the package identifier 250, the package 210comprises a magnetic strip 256 of conventional construction, such as onedeposited from a slurry, positioned on the package 210 so that it can bescanned in well-known magnetic strip reading equipment. A terminal suchas a Tranz 380 made by Verifone is suitable in this application.

Encoded on the magnetic strip 256 on the package is a representation ofthe package identifier. For additional security, the package identifiermay also be subjected to an encryption algorithm, many of which arewell-known in the art, prior to encoding on the magnetic strip 256.

In other embodiments of the package identifier (not shown), radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags, microprocessors, microchips may beplaced on the package 200 and 210 to be interpreted by specificallyconfigured devices.

In further embodiments, series of numerals, series of letters, orcombinations thereof, may be placed on the package 200 and 210 to beread or interpreted by a human or a device, i.e. optical characterrecognition device, configured to interpret a series of shapescorresponding to the package identifier.

In an embodiment, a package assembly comprises at least three distinctidentifiers, namely a vendor product identification code, the packageidentifier 250, and a combination vendor product identification andpackage identifier. The three identifiers may be encoded within barcodes, magnetic strips, electronic tags such as radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tags, microprocessors, microchips, series ofnumerals, series of letters, or combinations thereof. All threeidentifiers should be externally visible and/or readily accessible onthe package assembly or component thereof for use at a point of sale toactivate the package and the individual cards secured by the package.Having all three identifiers present and visible/readily accessible onthe package assembly allows the package and individual transaction cardssecured by the package to be activated by either a one-step or atwo-step activation sequence. Embodiments described herein having atleast three unique identifiers and thus being capable of either one-stepor two-step activation are also referred to herein as hybrid embodimentsor hybrid package assemblies.

In a two-step activation sequence, the first step comprises entering thevendor product identification code at a point of sale terminal such as aregister at a check out lane, which performs a look-up to determine theidentity of the product being purchased. For example, the first step maybe performed at the point of sale terminal by scanning a UPC bar code,more specifically a 12 digit bar code also referred to as an EAN/UCC-12or UPC-A, containing the vendor product identification code. A price istypically associated with the look-up and product identification. Suchprice may be fixed, for example incremental denominations such as a $25card, $50 card, etc. or alternatively may be a variable amount requestedby the customer. The second step comprises entering the packageidentifier 250 at the point of sale, which is then used to activate thepackage and the individual transaction cards secured by the package suchthat the individual transaction cards may be used to transact businesswith a redeeming merchant. For example, the second step may be performedby swiping a magnetic strip containing the package identifier 250,wherein package identifier 250 is interpreted from the magnetic stripand used to activate the individual transaction cards secured by thepackage. Alternatively, the second step may be performed by scanning abar code containing the package identifier 250, wherein the packageidentifier 250 interpreted from the bar code is used to activate theindividual transaction cards secured by the package. Alternatively, thesecond step may be performed by reading an RFID tag or computer chipcontaining the package identifier 250, wherein the package identifier250 interpreted from the RFID tag or computer chip is used to activatethe individual transaction cards secured by the package. Upon beinginterpreted at the point of sale, the package identifier 250 may beconveyed (for example, via a computer network) to the multicardtransaction computer 350 to effectuate activation or deactivation of theindividual transaction cards secured by the package.

In a one-step activation sequence, the one step comprises simultaneouslyentering the combination vendor product identification and packageidentifier at the point of sale. For example, the one step may beperformed at the point of sale by scanning a bar code, for example anEAN/UCC-128 bar code, containing both a vendor product identificationportion and the package identifier portion. The vendor productidentification portion may be used to perform a look-up to determineproduct identity and price as described previously. The packageidentifier portion may be used to activate or deactivate the individualtransaction cards secured by the package such that the individualtransaction cards may be used to transact business with redeemingmerchants described previously. As can be seen from these descriptions,the one-step process only requires a single entry at the point of saleto activate or deactivate the package and individual transaction cardssecured by the package, whereas the two-step process requires twoseparate steps to activate or deactivate the package and individualtransaction cards secured by the package.

At the time that the allocation of transaction cards 100, 101 to thepackages 200 and 210 is determined, the allocation information is addedto a database that correlates the data encoded in the transaction cardidentifiers allocated to a specific package 200 and 210, to the uniquepackage identifier 250 of the package. Referring to FIG. 3, the database380 of correlated package identifier and individual transaction cardidentifier information provides the basis for the latency of atransaction being independent of the number of individual transactioncards secured by a package subject to a request for activation ordeactivation at a point of sale. This correlated information containedin the database 380 allows a card vendor, or other entity with access tothe database 380, to initiate activation or deactivation of every cardsecured by the package by simply interpreting and communicating thepackage identifier 250 and such a request to the transaction activationcomputer 350.

The database can be fashioned in any form that is generally accepted inthe industry. The database may contain information related to: (a)package identifiers 250; (b) individual transaction card identifiers111; (c) the individual card issuers' accounts maintained for theindividual transaction cards; (d) the monetary amount ascribed topackages; (d) the monetary amount ascribed to individual transactioncards; (e) the identities of the individual card issuers of thetransaction cards secured by the packages and correlated to uniquepackage identifiers; (f) the time the packages and individualtransaction cards were correlated; (g) the PINs associated withindividual transaction cards requiring PIN input for use; and (h) anyother information the database administrator 381 determines should bemaintained in the database 380.

In one embodiment, the correlation of the data encoded in thetransaction card identifiers 111 to the specific package identifier 250may be accomplished by a manual process whereby human action is requiredto record the unique package identifier 250 and the transaction cardidentifiers 111 secured in the package. In this embodiment, thetransaction card identifiers 111 and package identifiers 250 are alreadypresent on the respective components. For example, human input could beutilized to physically interpret the package identifier 250 andtransaction card identifiers 111 and to physically transcribe thiscorrelative information. Alternatively, human input could be utilized tooperate mechanical, electronic, or other types of devices to interpretthe package identifier 250 and transaction card identifiers 111. Devicessuch as bar code readers and magnetic strip readers could be utilizeddepending on the package identifier's 250 and transaction cardidentifiers' 111 encoded forms. The information from the packageidentifier 250 and transaction card identifiers 111 could then bemanually correlated, or correlated electronically. The correlativeinformation could then be entered into the database 380 by the databaseadministrator 381.

In another embodiment, the correlation of the data encoded in thetransaction card identifiers to the specific package identifier 250 maybe accomplished by an automated process whereby non-human means areutilized to record and correlate the unique package identifier 250 andthe transaction card identifiers 111 secured by the package. In thisembodiment, the transaction card identifiers 111 and package identifiers250 are already present on the respective components. For example,mechanical, electronic or other non-human means could be utilized tointerpret the package identifier 250 and transaction card identifiers111. If the information is encoded in bar codes 255, a device capable ofinterpreting the bar codes (e.g., a bar code reader or scanner) could beutilized to scan the package identifiers 250 and transaction cardidentifiers 111; if the information is encoded in magnetic strips 256, adevice capable of interpreting magnetic strips (e.g., a magnetic stripreader or scanner) could be utilized to scan the package identifiers andthe transaction card identifiers. The information from the packageidentifier 250 and transaction cards identifiers 111 could then beautomatically electronically correlated. The correlative informationcould then be entered into the database 380 by the databaseadministrator 381.

In a further embodiment, the correlation of the data encoded in thetransaction card identifiers 111 to the specific package identifier 250may be accomplished by an automated process whereby the packageidentifier 250 is generated and encoded onto the package in response toa process that allocated transaction cards to the package. A deviceconfigured to allocate transaction cards to packages, interprettransaction card identifiers and package identifiers, and recordtransaction card identifiers assigned to packages could be used togenerate packages of transaction cards and to record the correlation ofthe package identifier 250 to the transaction cards secured by thepackage. This correlative information could then be entered into thedatabase 380 by the database administrator 381.

For example, a manufacturing system could be employed to simultaneouslyfabricate individual transaction cards and package assemblies, assignunique transaction card identifiers 111 to the individual transactioncards 100, 101 and assign unique package identifiers 250 to thepackages, collate the individual transaction cards 100, 101 intospecific packages, record the individual transaction cards identifiers111 of the individual transaction cards secured by the package and thepackage's unique package identifier 250, and transfer the recordedcorrelative information into the database 380.

In accordance with the present invention, a method of packaging multipletransaction cards for display and sale in an unsecured environment isprovided. As has been discussed, the method comprises (a) providing aplurality of pre-formed transaction cards 100, 101, each transactioncard bearing a unique transaction card identifier 111 and eachtransaction card identifier corresponding to a unique transaction cardaccount maintained by the card issuer; (b) providing a means ofpackaging the plurality of transaction cards 101, 101, each packagebeing adapted to secure a plurality of transaction cards, and eachpackage comprising a unique package identifier 250 associated with thepackage 200 and 210 in a manner consistent with a desired method ofinterpreting the package identifier; and (c) providing and maintaining adatabase 380 that correlates the package identifiers 250 of the packagesto the transaction card identifiers 111 of the transaction cards thatare secured by the package 200 and 210.

To further describe the present invention, a card vendor may gain accessto the database by accessing a secure multicard transaction system, asdepicted in FIG. 3. The multicard transaction system comprises: (a) atleast one point of sale component 311; (b) a multicard transactioncomputer 350; (c) a database 380 of package identifiers and individualtransaction card identifiers; (d) at least one individual card issuer'sauthorization system 360; and (e) any other component included in thesystem by the multicard transaction computer administrator 351.

FIG. 3 illustrates a multicard transaction system 300 in accordance withthe present invention. The system is adapted to respond to a pluralityof packages 200 and 210, with each of the packages bearing uniqueidentifiers 250. As can be seen in FIG. 3, at the point of sale, thepackage identifier is interpreted 302 by a point of sale interpretationcomponent 301. The point of sale interpretation component 301 cancomprise a human, a bar code scanner, magnetic strip reader, opticalcharacter recognition device, or other device configured to interpretthe data encoded in the package identifier.

Contemporaneously with the interpretation of the package identifier 250,a request for activation or deactivation 303 by a point of saletransaction component 304 is made. The point of sale transactioncomponent 304 can comprise a human, an electronic input device, aregister, a computer processing unit (“CPU”), or other means ofrequesting the activation or deactivation of the package identifierinterpreted by the point of sale interpretation component 301. Forpurposes of disclosure, the actions performed by the point of saleinterpretation component 301 and the point of sale transaction component304 may be performed by one component capable of performing both actionsthat would be performed by the individual components.

The point of sale interpretation component 301 and the point of saletransaction component 304 communicate with the point of sale processingcomponent 305. The point of sale processing component 305 can comprise aCPU or other type of processing device accepted for use in the industry.The point of sale interpretation component 301 communicates the packageidentifier 250 to the point of sale processing component 305. The pointof sale transaction component 304 communicates the request foractivation or deactivation of the package identifier 250 interpreted bythe point of sale interpretation component 301 to the point of saleprocessing component 305. The point of sale processing component 305correlates the package identifier interpreted by the point of saleinterpretation component 301 with the request for activation ordeactivation made by the point of sale transaction component 304 andcommunicates the request 306 for activation or deactivation of thepackage identifier to the multicard transaction computer 350. Forpurposes of disclosure, the actions performed by the point of saleinterpretation component 301, the point of sale transaction component304, and the point of sale processing component 306 may all be performedby one component capable of performing all the actions that would beperformed by the individual components.

The point of sale processing component 305 is connectable to themulticard transaction computer 350 as via a suitable network, such asthe public switched telephone network (PSTN) or an independent dedicatednetwork. Each point of sale processing component 305 has an associatedidentifier that may be transmitted to the multicard transaction computer350 during the course of connecting the point of sale processingcomponent 305 to the multicard transaction computer 350.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the multicard transaction computer 350 isconfigured to: (a) form a secure connection with the card vendor system311, the card issuers' authorization systems 360, and any other entitiesauthorized to access the multicard transaction computer 350 by themulticard transaction computer administrator 351; (b) access thedatabase 380 to determine the transaction cards to be activated ordeactivated based on the package identifier communicated to it by thecard vendor; (c) to communicate with card issuers' authorization systems360 to request and receive activation or deactivation of specifictransaction cards based on the information contained in the database 380correlating transaction card identifiers to unique package identifiers;(d) generate and maintain transaction log 370 of all activitiesperformed; (e) generate and maintain an error log 375 of all activitiesunsuccessfully completed and reasons therefor; (f) communicate to thecard vendor the activation or deactivation of the individual transactioncards secured by the package and any information concomitant with theactivation or deactivation of individual transaction cards, i.e. thecommunication of PINs associated with activated transaction cards; and(g) communicate to the card vendor any reasons why requestedtransactions cannot not be completed.

Oversight and maintenance of the multicard transaction computer isperformed by the multicard transaction computer administrator 351.Although not required, in an alternative embodiment, the multicardtransaction computer administrator 351 may also function as the databaseadministrator 381.

The multicard transaction computer 350 may comprise a singularprocessing unit, with concomitant storage capability, capable ofaccessing the database 380, creating and maintaining a transaction log370, creating and maintaining an error log 375, communicating with thecard vendor, communicating with the individual card issuers'authorization systems 360, processing individual transaction cardactivation and or deactivation requests, and communicating with othersystems 390 capable of and authorized to communicate with the multicardtransaction computer 350.

In the alternative, the multicard transaction computer may comprise aplurality of processing units, with concomitant storage capabilities,each capable of: accessing the database 380; creating a transaction log370; creating and maintaining an error log 375; communicating with cardvendors; communicating with the individual card issuers' authorizationsystems 360; processing individual transaction card activation and ordeactivation requests; and communicating with other systems 390 capableof and authorized to communicate with the multicard transaction computer350.

In another alternative embodiment, the multicard transaction computer350 may comprise a plurality of processing units, with concomitantstorage capabilities, each individually designated for: accessing thedatabase 380; creating a transaction log 370; creating and maintainingan error log 375; communicating with card vendors; communicating withthe individual card issuers' authorization systems 360; processingindividual transaction card activation and or deactivation requests; andcommunicating with other systems 390 capable of and authorized tocommunicate with the multicard transaction computer 350.

In another alternative embodiment, the multicard transaction computermay comprise a plurality of processing units, with concomitant storagecapabilities: capable of accessing the database 380, creating atransaction log 370, creating and maintaining an error log 375,communicating with card vendors, communicating with the individual cardissuers' authorization systems 360, processing individual transactioncard activation and or deactivation requests, and communicating withother systems 390 capable of and authorized to communicate with themulticard transaction computer 350; designated for accessing thedatabase 380, designated for creating a transaction log 370, designatedfor creating and maintaining an error log 375, designated forcommunicating with card vendors, designated for communicating with theindividual card issuers' authorization systems 360, designated forprocessing individual transaction card activation and or deactivationrequests, and designated for communicating with other systems 390capable of and authorized to communicate with the multicard transactioncomputer 350; or any combination thereof.

Upon receipt of an activation or deactivation request for a package ofmultiple transaction cards from the card vendor, the multicardtransaction computer 350 accesses the database 380 of transaction cardidentifier data correlated to unique package identifiers. The multicardtransaction computer 350 processes the information contained in thedatabase 380 and communicates 309, 310 with the individual card issuers'authorization systems 360 to effectuate activation or deactivation ofthe transaction cards secured by the package. The multicard transactioncomputer's 350 communication with the individual card issuers'authorization systems 360 may occur simultaneously or independently. Themulticard transaction computer 350 is connectable to the individual cardissuers' authorization systems as via a suitable network, such as thePSTN or an independent dedicated network. The multicard transactioncomputer 350 is configured to receive communication from the cardissuers' authorization systems 360 concerning the status of theactivation or deactivation of individual transaction cards.

The multicard transaction computer 350 is also configured to generateand maintain a transaction log 370 of all activity involving themulticard activation computer 350. The transaction log may comprise adetailed summary of: (a) requested package activations; (b) requestedpackage deactivations; (c) requested individual card activations; (d)requested individual card deactivations; (e) the monetary amountascribed to package activations; (f) the monetary amount ascribed topackage deactivations; (g) the monetary amounts ascribed individualtransaction card activations; (h) the monetary amounts ascribed toindividual transaction cards deactivations; (i) the identities of theindividual card issuers of the transaction cards secured by activatedpackages; (j) the identities of the individual card issuers of thetransaction cards secured by deactivated packages; (k) the time thepackages were activated; (1) the time the packages were deactivated; (m)the time individual transaction cards were activated; (n) the timeindividual transaction cards were deactivated; (o) the transaction orcommunication performed with the card issuer to activate the individualtransaction cards; (p) the transaction or communication performed withthe card issuer to deactivate the individual transaction cards; (q) thePIN communicated to the card vendor in response to a request to activatea transaction card requiring the input of a PIN for use; (r) any otherinformation the multicard transaction computer administrator 351 directsthe multicard transaction computer 350 to maintain as a log entry; and(s) any combination thereof.

The information contained in the transaction log 370 may be used togenerate reconciliation reports, settlement reports, payment reports,audit reports, or other forms of information aggregation for the benefitof, use by, or for provision to, the multicard transaction administrator351, the database administrator 381, card vendors, card issuers, cardissuer's authorization systems 360, redeeming merchants, or otherinterested parties.

The multicard transaction computer 350 is configured to generate andmaintain an error log of all transactions that were not completed andreasons therefor.

The multicard transaction computer 350 is also configured to communicateto the card vendor 307 the status of a request for activation ordeactivation of a package identifier 250 and/or individual transactioncards and to communicate any necessary PIN information required byactivated transaction cards to the card vendor in order for the cardpurchaser to be apprised of that information for use of the purchasedindividual transaction card. As previously discussed, is connectable tothe individual card issuers' authorization systems as via a suitablenetwork, such as the PSTN or an independent dedicated network.

The multicard transaction computer 350 is also configured to communicatewith other entities 390 authorized to access the multicard transactionsystem and specifically authorized to access the multicard transactioncomputer 350. These other entities may comprise third party paymentmanagement systems, third party audit systems, card issuer affiliatedentities, card vendor affiliated entities, redeeming merchants orredeeming merchant affiliated entities, or any other entity providedaccess by the multicard transaction computer administrator 351.

There may arise situations where an activation or deactivation requestis received by the multicard transaction computer 350, but theinformation in the database 380 pertaining to the package identifier orthe individual transaction card identifiers received by multicardactivation computer 350 precludes completion of the request. Forexample, a package assembly may have been previously activated, returnedto the point of sale for a refund, but not deactivated prior toreshelving. In that case, when a subsequent customer purchases thatpackage assembly, and an activation request is communicated to themulticard transaction computer 350, the database 380 file accessed bythe multicard transaction computer 350 will indicate that the packageassembly and the individual transaction cards secured by the package arealready activated. In this and other similar situations, the multicardtransaction computer will communicate a message to the card vendor thatthe transaction cannot be completed.

The multicard transaction computer 350 above may be implemented on anygeneral-purpose computer with sufficient processing power, memoryresources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessaryworkload placed upon it. FIG. 4 illustrates a typical, general-purposecomputer system suitable for implementing one or more embodimentsdisclosed herein. The computer system 480 includes a processor 482(which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is incommunication with memory devices including secondary storage 484, readonly memory (ROM) 486, random access memory (RAM) 488, input/output(I/0) 490 devices, and network connectivity devices 492. The processormay be implemented as one or more CPU chips.

The secondary storage 484 is typically comprised of one or more diskdrives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data andas an over-flow data storage device if RAM 388 is not large enough tohold all working data. Secondary storage 484 may be used to storeprograms which are loaded into RAM 388 when such programs are selectedfor execution. The ROM 486 is used to store instructions and perhapsdata which are read during program execution. ROM 486 is a non-volatilememory device which typically has a small memory capacity relative tothe larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM 488 is used tostore volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to bothROM 486 and RAM 488 is typically faster than to secondary storage 484.

I/0 490 devices may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches,dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tapereaders, or other well-known input devices. The network connectivitydevices 492 may take the form of modems, modem banks, ethernet cards,universal serial bus (USB) interface cards, serial interfaces, tokenring cards, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) cards, wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) cards, radio transceiver cards such as codedivision multiple access (CDMA) and/or global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) radio transceiver cards, and other well-knownnetwork devices. These network connectivity 492 devices may enable theprocessor 482 to communicate with an Internet or one or more intranets.With such a network connection, it is contemplated that the processor482 might receive information from the network, or might outputinformation to the network in the course of performing theabove-described method steps. Such information, which is oftenrepresented as a sequence of instructions to be executed using processor482, may be received from and outputted to the network, for example, inthe form of a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave

Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executedusing processor 482 for example, may be received from and outputted tothe network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signalor signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signalembodied in the carrier wave generated by the network connectivity 492devices may propagate in or on the surface of electrical conductors, incoaxial cables, in waveguides, in optical media, for example opticalfiber, or in the air or free space. The information contained in thebaseband signal or signal embedded in the carrier wave may be orderedaccording to different sequences, as may be desirable for eitherprocessing or generating the information or transmitting or receivingthe information. The baseband signal or signal embedded in the carrierwave, or other types of signals currently used or hereafter developed,referred to herein as the transmission medium, may be generatedaccording to several methods well known to one skilled in the art.

The processor 482 executes instructions, codes, computer programs,scripts which it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk(these various disk based systems may all be considered secondarystorage 484), ROM 486, RAM 488, or the network connectivity devices 492.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating witheach other may be coupled through some interface or device, such thatthe items may no longer be considered directly coupled to each other butmay still be indirectly coupled and in communication, whetherelectrically, mechanically, or otherwise with one another. Otherexamples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable byone skilled in the art and could be made without departing from thespirit and scope disclosed herein.

There has been described herein a multicard transaction system thatallows users to activate or deactivate multiple transaction cards bymerely requesting the activation or deactivation of a single packageidentifier assigned to a package securing a plurality of individualtransaction cards of independent, non-affiliated card issuers. It willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Theembodiments described are representative only, and are not intended tobe limiting. Many variations, combinations, and modifications of theapplications disclosed herein are possible and are within the scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited bythe description set out above, but is defined by the claims whichfollow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter ofthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A package assembly for processing a plurality oftransaction cards at a point of sale comprising: at least twotransaction cards, each with a unique account identifier associated witha unique account; a package for securing the plurality of transactioncards, wherein the package comprises at least three distinctidentifiers, wherein the at least three distinct identifiers comprise aunique package identifier, a vendor product identification codeidentifier, and an identifier which is a combination of the uniquepackage identifier and the vendor product identification codeidentifier.
 2. The package assembly of claim 1, wherein the packagefurther comprises transaction cards issued by a singular card issuer. 3.The package assembly of claim 1, wherein the package further comprisestransaction cards issued by a plurality of card issuers.
 4. The packageassembly of claim 1, wherein the package further comprises transactioncards issued by affiliated issuers.
 5. The package assembly of claim 1,wherein the package further comprises transaction cards issued bynon-affiliated issuers.
 6. The package assembly of claim 1, wherein thepackage further comprises an identifier that is interpretable by a pointof sale component.
 7. The package assembly of claim 1, wherein the atleast three distinct identifiers comprise bar codes, magnetic strips,series of numerals, series of letters, series of symbols, orcombinations thereof.
 8. A method for the secure processing of a packageassembly at a point of sale comprising: providing a plurality oftransaction cards, each with a unique account identifier, assembled intoa package, wherein each unique account identifier is associated to aunique account; assigning a unique package identifier to the package;assigning a vendor product identification code identifier to thepackage; assigning a combination identifier to the package, wherein thecombination identifier comprises both the vendor product identificationcode identifier and the unique package identifier; associating theunique package identifier with the unique account identifiers of theindividual transaction cards assembled in the package; compiling adatabase of information concerning associated unique package identifiersand unique account identifiers; accessing the database upon receipt of arequest to activate or deactivate the package, wherein the requestcomprises either a one-step or a two-step sequence; processing theinformation contained in the database upon receipt of a request toactivate or deactivate the package; in response to the processing,initiating an activation or deactivation protocol for the individualtransaction cards contained in the package, wherein the activation ordeactivation protocol comprises conveying a request for transaction cardactivation or deactivation to the individual transaction card issuer'sauthorization system to effectuate activation or deactivation of theindividual transaction cards; receiving indication of activation ordeactivation of the individual transaction cards from the individualtransaction card issuer's authorization system; and communicating theactivation or deactivation of the individual transaction cards to thepoint of sale.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the unique packageidentifier is encoded in a magnetic strip, a bar code, a series ofnumerals, a series of letters, a series of symbols, or combinationthereof.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the unique identifiers ofthe individual transaction cards are manually associated with the uniquepackage identifier.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the uniqueidentifiers of the individual transaction cards are automaticallyassociated with the unique package identifier.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the unique identifiers of the individual transaction cardsare associated with the unique package identifier mechanically,electronically, or by a combination thereof.
 13. The method of claim 8,wherein a transaction log is complied memorializing actions concerningthe activation or deactivation of transaction cards.
 14. The method ofclaim 8, wherein an error log is complied memorializing actionsconcerning the unsuccessful activation or deactivation of transactioncards.
 15. A package assembly processing system comprising: a pluralityof transaction cards, wherein each individual transaction card comprisesa unique account identifier and wherein each unique account identifieris associated to a unique account; a package for securing thetransaction cards comprising at least three distinct identifiers,wherein the at least three distinct identifiers comprise a uniquepackage identifier, a vendor product identification code identifier, anda combination of the vendor product identification code identifier andthe unique package identifier; a point of sale component configured tointerpret the package identifier; a secure connection for transactioncard processing system communications; a point of sale componentconfigured to request activation or deactivation of the packageidentifier via the secure connection, wherein the request may compriseeither a one-step or a two-step sequence; a processor configured toprocess the unique package identifier and a corresponding activation ordeactivation request at the point of sale; whereby the processorcommunicates an activation or deactivation request for the packageidentifier to a multicard transaction computer via the secureconnection; a database comprising data associated with the individualtransaction cards' unique account identifiers correlated to uniquepackage identifiers; and the multicard transaction computer configuredto receive the request to activate or deactivate the package identifier,communicate with individual transaction card issuers' authorizationsystems to effectuate activation or deactivation of the individualtransaction cards, and communicate the individual cards' activations ordeactivations to the point of sale via the secure connection.
 16. Thepackage assembly processing system of claim 15, wherein the multicardtransaction computer is configured to generate and maintain atransaction log concerning the activations and deactivations ofindividual transaction cards.
 17. The package assembly processing systemof claim 15, wherein the multicard transaction computer is configured togenerate and maintain an error log concerning the unsuccessfulactivations and deactivations of individual transaction cards.
 18. Thepackage assembly processing system of claim 15, wherein package's uniqueidentifier is a bar code, magnetic strip, series of numerals, series ofletters, series of symbols, or a combination thereof.
 19. The packageassembly processing system of claim 15, wherein the multicardtransaction computer comprises at least one processing unit.
 20. Thepackage assembly processing system of claim 15, wherein the multicardtransaction computer comprises a plurality of processing units.